MiniNaNo: ficlet 3
The boys were driving along a winding back road, discussing the details of their latest case. The local papers had been vague on the specifics; the boys were either dealing with a nasty poltergeist, or possibly some vindictive townspeople. Dean wasn’t convinced it was their kind of thing, but they were near the area and it wasn’t a big deal to swing by and take a look.
They’d seen very few other vehicles on this particular stretch of road, so then the brightly colored Charger zoomed past, Dean took notice. Despite being painted an obnoxious shade of orange, with bright blue racing numbers painted on the sides, he couldn’t help but admire the vintage muscle car. Given the driver’s obvious lack of respect for safe driving habits, it was obvious that this vehicle had been driven hard. Dean was impressed that even at 90 mph, the engine sounded perfectly tuned. Not bad for a model released in 1969. He knew his own car could not compete with such a machine.
They had just passed a small side road when they heard a siren sound. Dean then spotted the flashing red and blues of a patrol car in the rear-view mirror.
“Please tell me that you’re not speeding,” Sam groaned, his bitchface firmly in place.
“I’m not speeding,” Dean replied.
Sam leaned over to look at the speedometer. “Yeah, I suppose the fact that you are 15 miles over the limit has nothing to do with us suddenly having a police escort.” He glared at his brother. “Dean, you’re on the FBI’s most wanted list. We can’t afford to attract attention like this.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dean muttered as he slowed to pull over. “It’s just some small time County Sheriff Sam. I doubt he’ll be much trouble.”
“Dean, we’re in Georgia, not California. These southern law-enforcement types aren’t the most liberal minded. If they recognize you, they’ll shoot first and ask questions later,” Sam warned.
“Aw, Sammy, you really do care,” Dean sneered. “I’m touched.”
“I hate you,” Sam scowled.
Their worry was for naught. As Dean pulled towards the shoulder, the patrol car veered around them and sped off.
The boys paused for a moment and looked at each other. Apparently the cop wasn’t interested in them after all. That was interesting.
“Maybe they’re after those guys that passed us a few miles back?” Sam suggested. It sounded reasonable. They had been going 90 in a 50 zone.
“Maybe,” Dean responded, pulling back out on the road.
A short time later they approached a railway crossing, the warning lights blinking and gates closing, indicating a coming train. Stopped many yards back from the track was the Charger from before.
Some distance behind them was the police cruiser. The driver’s side door was open and the Sheriff was using the door as cover while he trained his gun on the other vehicle’s occupants. On the far side of the track sat a second patrol car, where a young deputy stood in wait.
The Sheriff produced a bullhorn, and he instructed the driver and passenger of the vehicle to get out of the car with their hands up. From where Dean and Sam sat, it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
“Now boys, you just get out of that car and we’ll talk about this, y’hear?” the Sheriff pleaded. “No need for this to get violent.”
“Yeah boys,” added the deputy, shouting through his own bullhorn. “We jus’ need to talk to y’all about some things of Boss Hogg’s that’s gone missin’”
“Shut up Enos,” cried the Sheriff. “Let me handle this.”
Dean chuckled. Watching the two officers interact was akin to watching Dumb and Dumber. “Poor guys,” Dean chuckled, shaking his head.
“The cops?” Sam asked.
“Nah, the suckers they’ve trapped. It’s bad enough to get caught,” Dean explained. “But to be caught by these two fools? That’s just embarrassing!”
“I’m gonna tell you boys one more time,” shouted the Sheriff. “Get out of the vehicle with your hands in the air.”
At that moment there was a whistle from the train signalling it’s approach. The engine rolled past, pulling dozens and dozens of freight cars behind it.
From up ahead, Dean could hear the rev of an engine. That definitely didn’t sound like a car that was about to be turned off. The reverse lights came on, and the vehicle slowly eased back a few yards and then stilled, engine still revving.
“What’s he doing?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know,” Dean answered. “Maybe they’re gonna wait till the train passes and try to out run them?”
“Maybe,” Sam said thoughtfully. “Although, they’re pretty far away from the rails. Maybe they’re going to try to pull a u-turn?”
“Could be,” agreed Dean.
They waited a few moments, but neither side took action. Watching the train, the boys could see a few open-sided cars that were coming up to the crossing.
Dean saw the brake lights on the Charger blink several times, as the driver eased off the brakes. All of a sudden, the car squealed forward, accelerating quickly.
“What’s he doing?” Sam cried. “He’s not going to try what I think he’s going to try, is he?”
“There’s no way…” Dean insisted. “He can’t be that crazy.” He watched in horror before adding, “not with a car that sweet.”
The Sheriff jumped in to his cruiser and sped off in pursuit.
“Oh my god,” Dean gasped. “How stupid is this guy? What kind of idiot chases after a car that’s speeding towards a train?”
The orange car zoomed forward, passing over a small bump in the road and launching into the air, the patrol car hot on its heels.
“Holy shit!” Dean cried, watching wide-eyed as the car flew through the open side of a passing freight car and landed on the other side of the track.
Sam and Dean shared a look of total shock. “I can’t believe that he fucking made it!”
The suspension bounced and shook the car as it touched down, but the driver kept his foot pressed on the gas, speeding off into the distance.
The Sheriff wasn’t so lucky. By some miracle he’d managed to hit the same bump and catch air, but his vehicle lost steam as he jumped the track, the cruiser landing precariously on the bed of a passing railcar.
The Deputy watched helplessly as his superior was carried off by the train. “Don’t you worry Sheriff Rosco,” he shouted, though the man clearly wouldn’t be able to hear. “I’ll get you. You jus’ hold tight and I’ll save you!”
Dean and Sam sat in the Impala, buzzing with excitement as they waited for the train to finish passing. Just witnessing the insanity was enough to get their adrenaline pumping, and they laughed until there were tears in their eyes.
“Did you see that?” Dean wheezed.
“I don’t even know what to think of that,” Sam replied. “I mean, I’ve seen a lot of unbelievable things in my life,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “But I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything like that.”
“Me neither,” added Dean. He leaned forward and patted the dash of the Impala gently. “Don’t you worry baby,” he whispered. “I’d never ever try doing anything that stupid with you.”
Sam just rolled his eyes in response.
Character from a TV Show: Dean and Sam are witness the escape of Luke and Bo Duke in their confederate flag decorated ’69 Charger, the ‘General Lee’. “Dumb” and “Dumber” were Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane and Deputy Enos Strate, as played by James Best and Sonny Shroyer on the 80s hit “The Dukes of Hazzard.”
*I had originally contemplated having Sam lecture Dean on the significance of the Confederate Flag, expressing his distaste for the having it painted on a car in this day and age. Then I decided that would be too much and would detract from the main theme - the chase and subsequent getaway. Also, I drive in km/h. I have no idea what the posted speeds in Georgia might be, nor am I sure how fast 90 mph actually is.
Word count: 1222